The High Court of Manipur asked to issue a notice to Meta Facebook regarding the blocking of 13 Years old globally renowned climate activist Licypriya Kangujam’s Facebook account in India since November 19 on a bench led by Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh on Wednesday.
Manipur Government stated that Licypriya’s posts on her Facebook on other communities (Kuki) could destabilize the state.
Licypriya Kangujam petition was represented by Senior Advocate Khaidem Mani, Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh, Advocate Aribam Nouteswori, Advocate Aribam Gautam Sharma and Advocate Khangembam Shamungou. Advocate S Kaminikumar represented the State of Manipur and the Ministry of Information and Technology, Government of India.
Licypriya expressed that blocking a child’s Facebook account when our leaders failed to run the Government is a global embarrassment for Manipur and India. Licypriya Kangujam is the world’s youngest diplomat in history working officially in a Government as Special Envoy for the President of East Timor. Her Facebook is an important platform to share her daily official updates with the whole world, not just Manipur and communicate with the people. Blocking it without any prior notice is a gross violation of her rights. This is an attempt to silence her voice and to finish her career.
A plea was filed by Licypriya on Monday and it was urgently listed to hear in a bench of Justice Ahanthem Bimol and asked petitioner to issue a notice to the Meta Facebook within 4 weeks and an affidavit to file for the same. The court fixed the next hearing on 31 January 2025 and mentioned that an interim order would be passed on the next hearing.
Earlier this month, Manipur State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights Manipur issued a notice to Commissioner Home. In response, the Manipur Government stated that Licypriya shared misleading and false information on her social media regarding the recent killings of 6 women of an entire Meitei family in Jiribam including 2 minor girl children by Kuki Militants without any postmortem and autopsy report. However, postmortem and autopsy reports of the brutal killings of all 6 are available in the public domain.
Other reasons include the crediting of the then OC Jiribam Shangakpam Ibotombi in a Facebook post of Licypriya. It also stated that Licypriya speaking out against other communities (kuki) can stabilize the state. The Home Department issued an emergency order to the Ministry of Information & Technology, Government of India to block her Facebook within India on November 19.
Licypriya also appealed several times to Manipur’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh to revoke the blocking of her Facebook account as it hindered her daily official work.
Meanwhile, Licypriya will be honoured today in Hyderabad by Democratic Sangha and Mercedes-Benz with the “Changemaker Award 2024”.